CENI will be a national leader in research on the scholarship and practice of inter-organizational partnerships and collaborative problem-solving that attend to the complexities and persistent issues of educational systems. This includes being renowned as facilitators of community-engaged educational networks that are characterized by their sustained commitment to mutual learning and positive change.  

Consistent with CENI’s positioning within a university investment institute, CENI will also be known for its leadership in building sustainable, human-centered, research infrastructure that enables interdisciplinary scholars to amplify their research impact and meaningfully engage with the broader public.  

CENI advances applied research and community engagement to address the complexities and persistent issues of educational ecosystems. We build and commit to long-term relationships with regional schools, museums, and programs for reciprocal learning and positive collaborative change. We operate with place-based research infrastructure to foster interdisciplinary engagement with Virginia Tech faculty and students. 

Our nationally recognized, impact-focused agenda leverages external funding to advance this mission in support of the following core research priorities:

• Dynamics of Educational Partnerships and Collaborative Networks
  Projects that advance the scholarship and practice of inter-organizational collaboration in pursuit of positive educational outcomes. This work strengthens collective, multi sector responses to evolving educational, economic, political, and social contexts.
• Systemic Change in Youth and Community Education
  Projects that inform transformative change initiatives by attending to the complexity and ambiguity inherent in educational systems. This work enables policy reform, shifts paradigms, and stimulates innovative educational practices while emphasizing the role education plays in creating a just and equitable future.
• Applied Education Research in Formal and Informal Learning Environments
  Projects that create or enhance educational environments that support student creativity, capacity for collaboration, and preparation for lifelong learning. This work encourages interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and community-engaged collaborative problem-solving.